The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former House of Representatives member, Gudaji Kazaure, over allegations of receiving ₦70 million from embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
According to Daily Nigerian EFCC operatives apprehended Kazaure on Wednesday, shortly after a Kano High Court lifted a restraining order that had previously protected the former lawmaker from arrest.
Sources within the EFCC revealed that Kazaure initially received ₦20 million in two separate payments through an intermediary identified as Eric, who was allegedly acting on Emefiele’s behalf. The funds were purportedly intended for the purchase of Sallah rams.
The source added that an additional ₦50 million was later transferred to Kazaure as a “donation” following a fire incident at his residence.
Kazaure is currently being held at the EFCC’s Kano office and is expected to be transferred to Abuja for further questioning and possible prosecution.
It will be recalled that in December 2022, Kazaure publicly accused Emefiele of overseeing the disappearance of ₦89.1 trillion in unremitted stamp duty charges. He also alleged that he was being deliberately prevented from presenting a preliminary report by a presidential committee tasked with investigating the matter under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, the Presidency, through a statement issued by then-presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, dismissed Kazaure’s claims as baseless, noting that the said committee had been dissolved.
Emefiele, who was suspended and later removed by President Bola Tinubu in 2023, is currently facing multiple corruption-related charges in courts in Lagos and Abuja.
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